Mike Johnson Tries To Defend Himself Against Marjorie Taylor Greene Diss On CNN

Collins displayed social media remarks by the Georgia Republican in which she chided Johnson for not detailing a plan to help people whose Obamacare subsidies will run out soon. Greene called it “unacceptable” and accused her own party of dropping the ball on a “healthcare disaster” that will lead Americans to “financial ruin.”

Senate Democrats are demanding that Republicans extend the benefits or else they won’t vote to end the government shutdown.

“She says, ‘You’re sitting on the sidelines.’ What’s your response to congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene?” Collins asked.

“Well, bless her heart,” Johnson answered. “That’s an absurd statement. Obviously, these conference calls are monitored by media, so we’re not gonna have actual strategy discussions on a line where you have hundreds of people listening in because it would be reported on the front page. We have been working on this for a long time. We worked on it today. We’ve been working on it every day.”

Johnson claimed the Democrats’ pushback was a “red herring” designed to show force against Trump.

That didn’t deter Collins from returning to Greene’s comments.

“Speaker, she’s saying that the Republicans aren’t doing anything to address the health care issue here that Democrats are arguing about,” the host said. “Are you saying that there is a Republican plan and you’re just not talking about it?”

“No, I’m saying there’s lots of discussion about it, but we don’t relay it on a conference call with hundreds of people listening in,” Johnson said.

Johnson called on Democrats to end their “crazy gambit” and Collins again tried to refocus the conversation.

“But if you have ideas and you have plans, why not have that out there to talk about in the public?” she asked.

Johnson tried to detour the interview back to blaming the Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

“We’re not going to allow Chuck Schumer to play selfish political games and hold the American people hostage,” the speaker said. “We will not negotiate with legislative terrorists.”

Greene, a GOP firebrand who has trafficked in conspiracy theories, has suddenly become somewhat of an ally for Democrats in defying the Trump administration. She has also called for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.